News from the community

Chief Commissioner Leon Dietrich fights for more education with regard to LGBTQI+. Chief Commissioner Leon Dietrich has dedicated himself to a very special task since 2020. He holds a very important and always challenging position. Because: at the Lower Saxony Police, he is the first point of contact for LGBTQI+. His tasks in this area are multifaceted. Among other things, he also devotes himself to the area of public relations. After all, this is an important factor that is (unfortunately) often forgotten in everyday life. Ideally, education and tolerance take place on different levels. On the one hand, queers should of course know whom they can approach with regard to problems. On the other hand, the public should always be reminded that there is more than "just" man and woman. A look at the details shows that Leon Dietrich seems to be made for this job. Because: He w...

Where are queer people taken after their arrival? Due to the current situation in Ukraine, there are more and more people who have to give up their existence and flee to a safe country. Meanwhile, it is becoming clear that among the many people who have fled, there are some who have a particular need for protection or vulnerability. The Berlin Senate is now looking closely at these individuals and considering how best to accommodate and support them. The target group of these uncomplicated and as fast as possible assistance services includes those who, for example, need special medical or nursing treatment, but also people who belong to the LGBTQI+ community. Among other things, this is intended to create a protected space for homosexual, bi-sexual and transsexual people - despite (or precisely because of) the numerous negative circumstances that flight has already brought. What exactly is planned? D...

Is Ukraine more LGBTQI+ friendly than the rest of Eastern Europe? Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, more and more people are fleeing from terror, bombs and the Russian regime. After all, among other things, Russia is also one of the countries known for suppressing the LGBTQI+ scene. Whether it's homophobic statements or attempts to suppress education around LGBTQI+ issues, the list of criticisms that many queers raise is long. What is particularly frightening in this context: The situation is not really different in many other Eastern European countries. A look at the media shows that there is still a lot of work to be done here before there COULD ideally be some kind of equality. Recently, the Hungarian government in particular has dominated the news with LGBTQI+ hostile bans and discrimination. Again and again there was hot discussion in social networks and also herez...

Trans girls to be excluded from physical education classes The situation for transsexuals in the USA is not really encouraging. More and more details point out that also in the future laws will be passed that will discriminate more against this part of the community. Among other things, it is particularly frightening that transsexual girls living in the US state of Oklahoma, for example, will no longer be allowed to participate in school sports if a corresponding bill continues to be waved through. The parents of the children will also be brought on board. They will have to confirm in writing that their offspring really lives out the gender they were "given" at birth. The explanation of those who are in favor of said law is quickly summarized. They are of the opinion that only "girls against girls" and "boys against boys" are allowed to compete in sports. Period. A look beyond the end of one's nose, even beyond the biological...

The war in Ukraine has left its mark on many people in the community. The numerous terrible news that are spread again and again - among other things also via the social networks - leave their mark... Partially also on the soul. And even if there are now many offers of help for queer refugees from Ukraine and numerous people do what they can do here in Germany, there is a danger that the psyche suffers extremely. Anyone who notices that they are in a kind of "fear corridor" from which they cannot get out themselves should not underestimate the situation - if only for the sake of their own psyche. Although the following tips do not guarantee 100% success, they can often help people to see things a little more clearly again. However, those who do not manage to change their minds on their own should not hesitate to seek professional help....

Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks out against equal rights for trans women in sports Unfortunately, many people still find it difficult to understand that trans people are or should be considered "real men" or "real women" after gender reassignment surgery. Why should a person who was born a biological male, for example, but then realized he was a woman, not have the same rights as a cis woman? It is precisely this more than tolerance and equality that many people are advocating for, especially the LGBTQI+ community. They believe that anyone who feels like a woman and wants to be seen in the same way should also have the right to live as a woman. Prime Minister Boris Johnson sees things somewhat differently. In certain areas - in his opinion - cis and trans women should not have equal rights. He is of the opinion that trans women have a physical disadvantage in various areas....

Normally, one's own family should be a place of refuge. A study from Great Britain shows that this is not always the case. According to a recent survey conducted by the anti-abuse organization Galop, every third (!) queer person in Great Britain is mistreated by their family because of their sexual orientation. The study surveyed 5,000 people. The result gives a shocking impression of what happens away from the public eye and how much pressure people have to live with every day. What does "abuse" mean in this case? The term "abuse" is broad. Many define it differently. In the survey, this included physical violence and verbal attacks. In most cases, the perpetrators were either the parents of the queer people involved or other close relatives. A look at the age of the queer victims also leaves one simply stunned. So w...

Great Britain and the back and forth around "homo cures Recently the headline caused a sensation that there would not be a therapy ban for "curing homosexuality and bisexuality" in Great Britain after all. However, there were not only protests from the population, but also from Boris Johnson's own party. Therefore, Johnson now apparently felt called to row back. According to a BBC report, the ban on homosexual healing will now also come to Great Britain. What exactly has been decided now? After much discussion and a high level of outrage that the therapy ban was apparently going to be shelved, something was announced on Friday that should cause many queers in the UK to breathe a sigh of relief. So probably homosexual and bisexual people in the UK can actually benefit from the ban on "homo cures" in the future. Because: Also in Great Britain still many queer...

Singer Emeli Sandé has fallen in love with a woman Scottish soul and R&B singer Emeli Sandé has had a turbulent time. Her career celebrated one success after another in the past. In her private life, however, things didn't look so good over a long period of time. After her divorce in 2014, the singer-songwriter suffered from depression and had a hard time picking herself up again. Even her career as a musician was acutely threatened. About three years ago, she was afraid, among other things, that her career had gone up too steeply and that it was a logical conclusion that the "great success" could not be sustained. Now, however, her fans (and of course Emeli Sandé herself) can breathe a sigh of relief. Because: It seems as if the artist has overcome her worst phase. And another news is currently doing the rounds: The 35-year-old singer is said to have fallen in love... This ma...